Clitoral Pain, medically diagnosed as clitorodynia, can present itself as sensations of stinging, burning, itching, stabbing, throbbing, or aching. This pain can persist in both physical and mental forms. At Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics, we are committed to helping our patients return to a state of comfort and confidence in their own bodies.

What Causes Clitoral Pain?

Clitoral pain usually has some common causes that, once identified, can be treated effectively. The following are only some of the common issues that can lead to clitoral pain:

Hormonal Changes

Your hormones function as your body’s messengers to control everything from fertility to sleep patterns. When your body isn’t producing enough of the hormones testosterone and estradiol, the primary form of estrogen made during your reproductive years, your vulva and clitoris can atrophy. Atrophy causes tissue loss and vaginal dryness.

Hypertonic Pelvic Floor Muscle Dysfunction

With a hypertonic pelvic floor, your pelvic floor muscles are in a constant state of contracting. The tightening of the pelvic muscles leads to a decrease in blood flow to the pelvic region causing a buildup of lactic acid. This lactic acid build-up can create sensations of burning, rawness, stabbing, and aching pain. Not only does pelvic floor dysfunction cause severe tenderness but can also cause urinary incontinence.

Pudendal Neuralgia

Sometimes called pudendal nerve entrapment, pudendal neuralgia refers to chronic pain in the pelvic area due to damage or irritation to the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve runs from the back of your pelvis to all the muscles and skin in your pelvic area and processes sensory information relating to touch, pain, pleasure, and temperature. When the pudendal nerve is compressed or damaged it can cause stabbing, burning, or shooting pain.

How to Treat Clitoral Pain

Clitoral pain is not something that you should have to suffer through silently. Luckily, there are ways to treat clitoral pain and get you back to a place of feeling comfortable and empowered. Treatments will depend on what conditions or symptoms are causing your clitoral pain and can include:

Physical Therapy

A pelvic floor physical therapist can help ease clitoral pain by using techniques like stretching, joint mobilization, and transvaginal pelvic floor muscle massage. When completed in the right number of treatments, patients experience decreased pain and normalized clitoral sensation and orgasms. Pelvic physical therapy treatments can also treat urinary incontinence, hip pain, and lower back pain.

Medication

Depending on what is causing your clitoral pain, medication can be prescribed to ease the pain or get rid of the cause altogether. If your pain is being caused by STIs or certain skin rashes, antibiotics can be prescribed to get rid of these infections. Likewise, antifungals can help treat yeast infections and restore your vaginal pH. Certain antidepressants and anticonvulsants can ease pain related to damaged or compressed nerves.

Sex Therapy and Counseling

It is important that when we take steps to heal our bodies, we are also giving the same amount of curative energy to our minds. Suggesting cognitive behavioral therapy is in no way the same as saying “It’s all in your head.” In fact, having someone there to help support your mental health in conjunction with your physical health may foster a more effective healing environment. Therapy can uncover possible causes of your pain and can be a great way to address the mental toll that physical pain has on a person.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are suffering from clitoral pain, know that you are not alone. Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics is committed to making patients feel cared for and seen during their wellness journey. To schedule a consultation, fill out our online contact form, or call us at 516-833-1301 to experience life pain-free.

Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics

Board-Certified Physicians

Tideline Center for Health & Aesthetics, located in Lake Success, NY, provides solutions for men and women’s intimate health issues. Tideline consists of dedicated physicians and staff that specialize in personalized care and support. Doctors Girardi, Handler, Powers, and Gerardi address low libido, painful sex, hormonal imbalances, rejuvenation, and aesthetic treatments. Our team is available to you for intimate healthcare needs.

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